Over the past decade, pickleball has transitioned from a niche hobby to a mainstream recreational activity driven by its appeal to players of all ages and skill levels. The sport’s slower pace and inclusive nature has made it a popular choice for people seeking a fun and accessible way to stay active. As of 2023, there were an estimated 48.3 million pickleball players worldwide according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, including Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and faculty members.
Pickleball combines existing games like tennis, badminton and ping pong to form its own concept: a paddle sport played on a smaller court with a perforated ball. The sport is played on a rectangular 44-foot by 20-foot court divided through the middle by a low net.
The two longer sides of the court are called the sidelines, while the two shorter sides are called the baselines. Each side has one center line making two service courts and a line parallel to the net called the non-volley line, which creates a non-volley zone. In the non-volley zone–or the kitchen–players are prohibited from serving or striking the ball.
Pickleball’s accessibility has made it a fan-favorite in Florida, with the sport continuing to leave its mark on high school students across the state.
“My mom got me my first paddle set about a year or two ago. I went to go play, and I fell in love with the game ever since,” sophomore Aiden Graber said. “I feel like the most exciting part about pickleball is getting to meet new people through playing.”
While not officially recognized by the Florida High School Athletic Association, a variety of high schools across Florida counties have integrated pickleball teams and clubs into their list of athletics. This includes MSD’s Pickleball Club, founded by seniors Michael Fierstat and Michael Cacace.
“We’re here to have fun, do tournaments and teach people how to play pickleball because it is an up and coming sport,” Cacace said. “I feel like it’s gotten so popular recently because it’s easy to play. It is more simple than tennis; I would say, because there isn’t as much running around and movement. Also, the games last quickly and only go up to 11 [points].”
Members learn the rules of the game and gain experience playing, traveling to various pickleball courts in the Parkland and Coral Springs area. Towards the end of the year, the club holds a tournament between teams of two, and the winning team earns a pizza party.
The club usually practices at Terramar Park in Parkland, playing against each other in an effort to collectively improve and make lasting connections with peers. The pickleball club held their first meeting of this year on Thursday, Sept. 5 in room 732, attracting a wave of interested new members to the group.
“We love this sport, and we wanted to share that love with as many people as possible,” Fierstat said. “We had been seeing that it has been a rising sport over the past couple of years, and people had been asking why a club had not been created yet, so we went ahead and made one.”
Pickleball’s growing popularity has sparked controversy as states like Florida consider converting beloved community spaces, including state parks and community spaces, into new courts.
However, these proposals have led residents and community groups to express concern about the potential loss of other beloved public amenities.
On Saturday, Aug. 21, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection revealed major development proposals for nine state parks, including adding 350-room hotels, golf courses and pickleball courts inside, clearing out acres of protected land and the wildlife that inhabits it.
Since the proposal was made public, the state has received significant backlash from state park officials, conservationists and citizens alike opposing the proposition, citing the ethical and environmental issues the construction would cause.
“Building pickleball courts in natural habitats really has no benefit,” Climate Change Club Co-President Julia Iuchyk said. “In South Florida, we are blessed with such unique environmental terrains like the Everglades, and building over these state parks will disrupt wildlife and add on to the worsening effects of climate change. Pickleball has just recently become popular, so while it is valid to believe it is a growing trend, it does not justify sacrificing these natural beauties for something that might not be played in the coming years.”
Still, pickleball continues to gain traction across a wide array of demographics due to its engaging nature and accessibility. The sport’s growth is evident in the increasing number of courts, leagues and players worldwide. As the sport evolves, it remains to be seen how it will shape sports culture, high school athletics and community engagement.
This story was originally published in the October 2024 Eagle Eye print edition.
